...How on Earth had he managed to get here...?


It had been so hard... so hellish with the rain breaking his clumsy footing... forcing him to topple head over heels a number of times, landing hard on his already mangled bones.


Still, he followed the lingering scent of familiarity, eyes widening when he saw just what he had dreaded.


"C...Cry...?"


His voice was a cracked whisper, almost entirely inaudible and lost to the constant pittering of rain.


Still, maybe he was sleeping... Yup... Had to be it... Cry alwasys tended to fall asleep anywhere really...


But had he ever fallen asleep in a rainy pond?


Maybe...


The gore coated stag lurched forward once more, quickening his pace as he neared the half-submerged body of his little brother... face hidden underneath his leg.


At first Jergens smiled, painfully due to his festering wounds, but happily all the same.


"Cry? Where ya been? I've been so worried bout ya..." he chuckled nervously, biting back a hiss of pain as he walked into the pond itself, hating how cold it was...


He bent his head down and gently nudged the little stag's shoulder. "C'mon... get up, man... Yer gonna catch a cold if ya sleep here..." he mumbled, offering a playful nip to his ear to shock him into waking up.


No response.


"Cry...?" he frowned, nuzzling him again and again. "Get up, man... Gotta find some shade...."


Still nothing.


"Cry! Come on! Wake up!" he shouted, prodding him, gently biting his sides.


Nothing.


The stag's heart starts to race, and he quickly flopped to his side, splashing ice cold water over himself and his brother, though he didn't seem to care any.


"Guess I'll have to wait till ya wake up then..." he mumbled, almost robotically.


"I'll be right here when ya wake up..."


But time passed...


and the little white stag never moved a muscle.


Still, Jergens sat, freezing his gashes and cuts in the pond as he waited.


And waited


And waited


And waited


...


"J-Jergens! What are you doing out here?!"


Ah yes... Faith...


The pretty golden-hooved stag slowly made his way towards them, lit candles atop his antlers guiding him to the duo.


He took a few small steps, halting as he reached Crybaby's side, looking down at him with a bit of uneasiness.


"Jergens... you're only going to get sick if you sit there..." he murmured nervously, holding his head down in caution.


"I don't care. I'm waitin' fer Cry to wake up so we can move somewhere."


Bartleby flinched a bit, struck at how blunt the stag's voice had sounded... and how harsh... It seemed so wrong...


"A-Are you feeling okay? A-At least get out of the water..." he stammered, lowering his head in unusual submission, completely taken aback.


"I'm stayin' here."


The ashen stag took a step back, alarmed at how threatening the tone his ex-lover had put on. Apart from putting on their hateful facade, Jergens had NEVER threatened him... Never...



But still...


"But... J-Jergens... I... don't think he's going to get up.... Ah..." the smaller deer almost squeaked out, trying to break the red stag out of his stupor.


In a span of a few quick seconds, he felt a sharp pain on the side of his neck... and antlers being thrust at him...


"He just needs to wake up! He'll be okay HE JUST NEEDS TO WAKE UP, FAITH!" the scarlet stag mindlessly lunged at him, a thorn on his antler tearing at the delicate flesh on Faith's neck.


The smaller stag shrieked in pain and shock, stumbling backwards... blood freely spilling from his wound...


Oh God... I'm bleeding... Please... no...


Jergens own expression, as soon as he had struck out almost instantly melted down into a panicking frown. "F-Faith...?" he stammered, trying to take a step forward.


As if on cue, Faith quickly half-limped, half-ran off into the undergrowth, leaving an alarmingly large trail of blood behind.


Of course he didn't need to give a parting word.


His expression was enough.


Heartbreak



---


((Rushed. Jerg's thoughts and actions with Cry... along with Faith being hurt as a result. Wanted to get this done quickly so pardon the crappiness....))